Flanged road mat and method and apparatus for assembling same

ABSTRACT

An overlapping flanged mat system for assembling the mat system for fabricating an artificial road including parallel upper surface boards extending longitudinally in one array, an intermediate plurality of surface boards transverse to the upper layer, and a lower set of boards extending parallel to the upper boards, said lower set having an inner-connecting section, extending outwardly from the longitudinal position of the first and second set of boards, creating a landing surface. The mats are inner-connected by laying down a succession of such three-ply mats to form an artificial road.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/782,781, filed Feb. 13, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to a new and improved three-ply innerconnecting method and apparatus for a board road system and the matwhich is used to form the board road. In the oil field and other areas,it is often necessary to lay down a temporary road. However, it shouldbe understood that the road of the present invention can form a bed oran intermediate bed of a road. This bed can be covered over with asphaltor shell and become more than temporary.

[0003] The present system prevents heavy equipment trucks from sinkingor becoming stuck and prevents tearing upheaval or unwanted damage ofdifferent soils.

[0004] There are several different board road patents which havesupplanted or taken the place of work crews for laying down board roads.The reason is that a mat system can be dropped quickly and effectivelyand picked up and reused again and is actually more stable andcost-effective than ordinary crew installed board road systems.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0005]FIG. 1 is a view of one mat of the proposed flanged mat system.

[0006]FIG. 2 is a top view of a series of mats connected longitudinally.

[0007]FIG. 3 is a top view of a series of mats connected longitudinallyand laterally.

[0008]FIG. 4 is a top view of a series of mats connected longitudinallyand rotated to build a curved road.

[0009]FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating the pivoting capability of theoverlapping flanged mats.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0010] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a mat 2, for forming a board road, maybe laid out in an end-to-end relationship with each of the mats. The mat2 is comprised of an upper section 5, intermediate section 6, and lowersection 7. While such sections 5 and 7 are indicated as being upper andlower, it should be understood that in forming overlapping board roads,the mat may be flipped over such that section 5 becomes the lowersection and section 7 becomes the upper section so long as subsequentlylaid down mats also have sections 5 and 7 in the same upper/lowerorientation.

[0011] The sections 5, 6, and 7 are each illustrated as being made oflumber. However, they may be made of any other type of materialincluding but not limited to concrete, fiberglass, particularizedrubber, various types of composition, rubber, or any other types ofmaterial which may be lighter, heavier, more flexible or less flexible.Sections 5, 6, and 7 are typically connected together by bolts, nails orother suitable type of fastner or other methods of attachment. It shouldbe understood that various materials for construction may requiresuitable ways of connection such as but not limited glue, welding,rivets and the like.

[0012] Each section, 5, 6, and 7, contains a plurality of boards 8, 9,and 10, respectively. Sections 5 and 7 have boards positioned parallelto and substantially side by side to each other. As illustrated,sections 5 and 7 are the same width (W) and same length (L), but areoffset longitudinally relative to each other. Thus, section 7 has asection or portion forming an inner-connection or connection extension11 and sections 5 and 6 form an inner-connection gap 12 which extendspast end 13 of section 7.

[0013] As further illustrated, section 6 forms the intermediate ply orsection and contains a plurality of boards 9 which extend transverse toboards 8 and 10 of sections 5 and 7 respectively. Section 6 is of thesame width and length (W and L) of section 5. Thus when attachedtogether, sections 5 and 6 are of the same width and length (W and L);thereby making sections 5 and 6 the same length and width (W and L) assection 7. Together sections 5 and 6 form an overlap on one end withsection 7 and a gap on the other end to form the inner-connecting end 11and inner-connecting gap 12, as set forth herein above. FIG. 2 showsmats 20, 21, and 22 laid out to form a longitudinally extending boardroad as desired. FIG. 3 shows one simple example of an array of matslaid out to form a staging area, a mat system for a turn around, or adelivery area for various trucks. As illustrated in FIG. 3, mats 25, 26,27, 28, 29, and 30, can be laid out in various arrays for formingsquares, rectangles, or any various other configuration.

[0014]FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment for the overlapping matsystem. The individual mats can be rotated approximately 15 degrees andstill retain the necessary strength and support characeristics regardingthe over-lapping ends; thus preventing any damage to the over-lappingends. This rotation allows for the building of curved road which can beconstructed around obstacles and utilize fewer mats when constructing aturn.

[0015]FIG. 5 illustrates an important inherant feature of theoverlapping mat system. The individual mats are capable of pivoting upand down without damage. The inter-connecting ends 11 andinterconnecting-gaps 12 are not constrained by any tabs or lips and arethus free to move with respect to one another. The pivoting can becaused by a truck or other heavy equipment as it crosses theinter-connected sections 11, 12 of the mats 2.

[0016] The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention isillustrative and explanatory thereof, and it will be appreciated bythose skilled in the art, that various changes in the size, shape andmaterials, the use of mechanical equivalents, as well as in the detailsof the illustrated construction or combinations of features of thevarious coring elements may be made without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

What is claimed
 1. A mat for forming a road including the following:three sections with a first and third section capable of being eitherthe top or bottom surface, said first and third sections formed of aplurality of boards of the same width and length (W and L) said boardspositioned parallel to each other, said first and third sections beingoffset longitudinally to each other to form an inner-connectingreceiving section and an inner-connecting receiving gap; and a secondintermediate section positioned between said first and third sectionsand of the same width and length as of said first and third sections,having a plurality of parallel boards in said intermediate sectionpositioned side by side and transverse to the boards of said first andthird sections, said intermediate section thus forming aninner-connecting receiving section and an inner-connecting receiving gapwith said first section wherein a mat is formed for inner-connectingsucceeding mats with each other to form a board road.
 2. The mat ofclaim 1 wherein the first layer is formed by a first set of longitudinaland substantially parallel boards; wherein the second layer is formed bya second set of longitudinal and substantially parallel boardstransverse to the first set and extending the length of the first layerand flush with the edges of the first layer; wherein a third layer isformed by a third set of longitudinal and substantially parallel boardstransverse to the second set and substantially parallel to the firstset, the third layer elements are disposed so as to be offset asubstantially equal amount from one end of the unit extending a likeamount from the other end of the unit, the second layer is attached tothe first layer; and the third layer is offset from and attached to thesecond layer.
 3. A mat system for forming a road including at least twomats each including the following: three sections with a first and thirdsection capable of being either the top or bottom surface, said firstand third sections formed of a plurality of boards of the same width andlength (W and L) said boards positioned parallel to each other, saidfirst and third sections being offset longitudinally to each other toform an inner-connecting receiving section and an inner-connectingreceiving gap; a second intermediate section positioned between saidfirst and third sections and of the same width and length as of saidfirst and third sections, having a plurality of parallel boards in saidintermediate section positioned side by side and transverse to theboards of said first and third sections, said intermediate section thusforming an inner-connecting receiving section and an inner-connectingreceiving gap with said first section wherein a mat is formed forinner-connecting succeeding mats with each other to form a board road;and said inner-connection of the succeding mat can be offset to form acurved road.
 4. A mat system for forming a road including at least twomats each including the following: three sections with a first and thirdsection capable of being either the top or bottom surface, said firstand third sections formed of a plurality of boards of the same width andlength (W and L) said boards positioned parallel to each other, saidfirst and third sections being offset longitudinally to each other toform an inner-connecting receiving section and an inner-connectingreceiving gap; a second intermediate section positioned between saidfirst and third sections and of the same width and length as of saidfirst and third sections, having a plurality of parallel boards in saidintermediate section positioned side by side and transverse to theboards of said first and third sections, said intermediate section thusforming an inner-connecting receiving section and an inner-connectingreceiving gap with said first section wherein a mat is formed forinner-connecting succeeding mats with each other to form a board road;and said inner-connection of the succeding mat can move upwardly ordownwardly without damaging the inner-connection.
 5. A mat system forforming a road including at least two mats each including the following:three sections with a first and third section capable of being eitherthe top or bottom surface, said first and third sections formed of aplurality of boards of the same width and length (W and L) said boardspositioned parallel to each other, said first and third sections beingoffset longitudinally to each other to form an inner-connectingreceiving section and an inner-connecting receiving gap; a secondintermediate section positioned between said first and third sectionsand of the same width and length as of said first and third sections,having a plurality of parallel boards in said intermediate sectionpositioned side by side and transverse to the boards of said first andthird sections, said intermediate section thus forming aninner-connecting receiving section and an inner-connecting receiving gapwith said first section wherein a mat is formed for inner-connectingsucceeding mats with each other to form a board road; saidinner-connection of the succeding mat can be offset to form a curvedroad; and said inner-connection of the succeding mat can move upwardlyor downwardly without damaging the inner-connection.
 6. A method ofconstructing board roads comprising the steps of: assembling a pluralityof similar mats wherein each said unit is formed by having a first layerhaving a set of longitudinal and substantially parallel boards, a secondlayer wherein the second layer is formed by a second set of longitudinaland substantially parallel boards transverse to the first set andextending the length of the first layer and flush with the edges of thefirst layer, a third layer wherein the third layer is formed by a thirdset of longitudinal and substantially parallel boards transverse to thesecond set and substantially parallel to the first set, the third layerelements are disposed so as to be offset a substantially equal amountfrom one end of the unit extending a like amount from the other end ofthe unit; the second layer is attached to the first layer and the thirdlayer is offset from and attached to the second layer; laying down afirst mat with the third layer runner elements in contact with theground; laying down a second unit, with the third layer runner elementsin contact with the ground and aligned with the first unit so that thefirst layer runner elements and the second layer runner elements of thesecond unit overlap the third layer runner elements of the first unit;and thereafter laying down units extending from the second underlying orfirst overlaying unit to extend the decking in the longitudinaldirection as desired.
 7. A method of forming an array or staging areacomprising: the steps of assembling a plurality of similar mats whereineach said unit is formed by having a first layer having a set oflongitudinal and substantially parallel boards, a second layer whereinthe second layer is formed by a second set of longitudinal andsubstantially parallel boards transverse to the first set and extendingthe length of the first layer and flush with the edges of the firstlayer, a third layer wherein the third layer is formed by a third set oflongitudinal and substantially parallel boards transverse to the secondset and substantially parallel to the first set, the third layerelements are disposed so as to be offset a substantially equal amountfrom one end and one side of the unit extending a like amount from theother end and other side of the unit; the second layer is attached tothe first layer and the third layer is offset from and attached to thesecond layer; laying down a first unit with the third layer runnerelements adjacent to the ground; laying down a second unit at thelongitudinal end of the first unit, with the third layer runner elementsin contact with the ground and aligned with the first unit so that thefirst layer runner elements and the second layer runner elements of thesecond unit overlap the third layer runner elements of the first unit;laying down a third unit at the lateral ends of the first and secondunits, with the third layer runner elements in contact with the groundand aligned with the first and second units so that the first layerrunner elements and the second layer runner elements of the third unitoverlap the third layer runner elements of both the first and secondunits and where the intersection of the first and second units issubstantially in the middle of the third unit causing the mats to bestaggered when compared laterally; and thereafter laying down unitsextending from any underlying or overlaying unit to extend the deckingin the direction desired.